Syracuse football to have tight end back on Saturday

John Berry / The Post-StandardWide receiver David Stevens looks the ball into his his hands during a pre-season practice in August.

Syracuse, NY - Tight end David Stevens will be back on the playing field Saturday when Syracuse University faces No. 2 USC.

The Orange (0-1) were without Stevens and several other players in last week's season opener against Northwestern.

"David Stevens will be able to play," Marrone said this morning during his weekly pregame news conference. "Alec Lemon we still don’t know."

Stevens and Lemon, a senior wide receiver, are seen as vital parts of the Orange offense.

Lemon was SU's leading receiver last season with 68 receptions, and Stevens, a redshirt senior, emerged in spring drills and the recent preseason camp as a big target for quarterback Ryan Nassib.

Both have been bothered by minor leg injuries.

Another receiver, junior Adrian Flemming, will not play on Saturday. Neither will All-Big East left tackle Justin Pugh.

Pugh missed the preseason while recovering from shoulder surgery in the off-season, and Flemming is still recovering from an ankle injury he suffered in an Aug. 18 scrimmage.

Flemming did return to practice this week but is still working with the Orange training staff. He and Pugh are believed to be close to rejoining the team and being cleared to play in the next few weeks.

Marrone also said that defensive lineman John Raymon, who transferred to SU from Iowa over the summer, continues to await a decision from the NCAA regarding his request to play this season.

Normally, transfers from other FBS schools have to sit out one year before playing for their new school.

"We’re still working with the NCAA, so we haven’t had a final decision on that yet, nor do I know when that will end or when we’ll get that final decision," Marrone said.

Stevens, who hails from Short Hills, N.J., said he's excited to be in the mix this weekend, since Saturday's game will be played near his home at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.

The tight end also said it was hard to watch his teammates drop last weekend's opener in the Carrier Dome.

"That was difficult," he said. "Especially a loss."

Stevens said he's not sure how much of a difference his presence on the field would have made, but he was happy that the other tight ends played well.